Process for the manufacture of laces for coaches and the like.



' of the said cloth.

@MTE @TA ATNT @lt lFlQtlE JOI-IANN STROBACH, OF NEAR SCI-INAU-SCHLUGKENAU, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LACES FOR COACHES AND THE LIKE.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JoI-IANN STROBACH, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Leopoldsruh No. 59, near Schonau-Schluckenau, Bohemia, Austria- Hungary, have invented a certain new and useful Process for the Manufacture of Laces for Coaches and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to an improved process for the manufacture of laces for coaches and the like, which are used for covering the edges of the cloth lining of coaches and the like, as well as for the straps used for opening the coach-windows. The laces heretofore in use for this purpose are manufactured in the form of a bandlike fabric upon a specially constructed loom, by which the patterns peculiar to such laces are interwoven. The manufacture of this fabric is thus eii'ected quite independently of the cloth used for lining the inner side of the coach, which however has the disadvantage that its shade never fully matches with that For this reason and because the lining cloth is generally dyed in fast colors, while the woven lace is not, the latter will more quickly fade than the lining cloth, so that the good appearance of the entire lining of the coach will soon be greatly impaired.

Furthermore, as the woven laces are made on a special loom only of a relatively narrow width and of a certain length, the cost of their manufacture is rather high and besides they can be manufactured only as comparatively thin goods. For these reasons the woven laces show a very low resisting force against mechanical influences as well as against exposure to the weather. Besides on account of their narrow width they require a special lining when used for elbowcushions and boots.

To obtain a lace for coaches, which fully matches the cloth used for lining the coach in respect to genuineness and equality of the color, it has already been proposed, to make the lace from strips of the lining cloth itself, into which after fastening it to a flexible groundwork, the pattern is impressed by a roller press. A lace obtained in this way will likely obviate the disadvantages adhering to the woven laces, however for another essential reason it will meet the requirements much less than a woven lace. For on these laces with impressed pattern,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 14, 1913.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

Serial No. 801,076.

the compressed parts of the fabric which are forming the pattern, are subjected to an injurious influence by the moisture of the air, which brings forward the disadvantage, that already after a short time of use the impressed parts will swell up and the pattern will become invisible or not cognoscible. Besides the strip of cloth, used as a strap for the coach-window, did not prove to be of sufiicient strength for obviating a distortion or stretching of the pattern, so that already after a short time of use the lace would become unsightly.

It has heretofore been tried, to overcome the disadvantages connected with the use of laces made from strips of the lining-cloth with impressed pattern, by pasting an agglutinant or a solution of caoutchouc upon the impressed parts, which is imparted to the press-roll by another suitable roll. I have however discovered that by this mode the impressed parts of the lace can be saved from swelling up only incompletely and for quite a short space of time, while a distortion or stretching of the pattern is by no means prevented. For this reason according to my experiences the pasting of such a means upon the impressed parts is entirely insufficient to prevent the distortion and stretching of the laces above referred to.

The present process has now for its object, to produce a lace for coaches, which will avoid all the drawbacks of the woven lace and which allows the manufacture of same from strips of the cloth used for lining the coach and the impressing of the patterns into the same in such a manner that the impressed parts of the finished lace are duly protected against swelling up by influences of moisture and the power of resistance of the lace against strain or tension is increased to such a degree that a distortion or stretching of the pattern will be impossible.

The essential feature of the present improved process consists therein, that the impressed parts of the strip of lining cloth are thoroughly impregnated while being pressed. To this purpose according to the invention the strip of lining cloth is led over the surface of the printing roller of the roller press simultaneously with the flexible groundwork which serves to strengthen the same during the pressing and which is led over the counter-roller, which groundwork is impregnated shortly before entering between the rollers and is therefore in a moistened state, so that by the pressing action the impregnation liquid contained in the groundwork will penetrate the lining cloth only at the compressed parts corresponding to the recesses of the pattern. According to the invention as impregnation-liquid such a means is used, which besides its properties, of preventing a swelling of the pressed parts, and of giving them a brighter pressing-gloss, further produces a weather-proof and rigid connection of the lining-cloth with the groundwork and imparts a leather-like nature to the latter.

In the present process thus at the same time with the pressing effected for producing the pattern an impregnation of the fabric is effected, 2'. 6. only the deepened parts of the same are impregnated, as only these parts are subjected to pressure, by which the impregnation liquid contained in the groundwork is forced to infiltrate the said deepened parts of the lace. The other parts of the fabric remaining unchanged by pressing, are however not impregnated and retain their original rough appearance on their outer surface, while the pressed down parts obtain smoothness and gloss and therefore are contrasting severely against the remaining rough parts appearing to be darker, by their brighter appearance. Though the lining-cloth is not impregnated as a whole, it nevertheless becomes completely weatherproof thereby, so that the deepened parts themselves are by their impregnation fully protected against swelling up by moisture and the like. Preferably the metal parts of the roller-press used for pressing are brought to action in a slightly heated state, so that an immediate drying of the pressed parts and an increase of the pressing-gloss will take place. By the present process furthermore, as the impregnation of the groundwork itself with the means, for example a solution of caoutchouc, producing the above mentioned effects, the advantage is obtained, that for the groundwork instead of leather any suitable cheap fabric, preferably felt can be taken, as this latter gets a leatherlike and weatherproof nature by the impregnation means. Another advantage of the new process consists therein, that the strip of lining-cloth does not furthermore require to be united with the groundwork before pressing, but that both parts come separately into the press, in which however they are joined together instantly to a solid whole, so that the lace leaves the press in a state ready for use. To this end it is of course necessary, to turn back the edges of the lining-cloth and to sew up same before introduction into the press. While pressing the groundwork will be squeezed with its upper side into the strip of cloth between the turned back edges and completely fills up this interspace, without how- ;ver being creased thereby on its outer surace.

With the usual thicknesses of the liningcloth the pressure will fully suffice, to force the impregnation liquid out of the groundwork throughout the pressed parts and to produce thereby a complete impregnation of the latter. l herewith the surface-printing-roll will remain free for the reception of printing colors or other suitable color solutions, for example pearl-essence, which can be laid on the elevations of the roll, with the effect, at the same time with pressing to perform a printing of the pressed parts and thus to obtain various effects of patterns. Eventually a leaf-metal may be laid on the press-roller, which will be held against the pressed parts by the impregnation means penetrating the same. By the treatment according to this method the pattern of the lace will receive a gold, silver or other metallic ground, after the nonadhering parts of the leaf-metal have been removed, for example by a blast or a brush. This kind of lace can be used for livery lace. If however the thickness of the liningcloth exceeds a certain limit, the danger will be imminent, that the impregnationmeans contained in the groundwork is not able to penetrate the pressed parts in due time and completely. To obtain also in such cases a complete impregnation of the pressed parts with the impregnation-liquid, it is to be preferred, to impregnate the pressed parts of the lace from both sides, in such a manner that not only the groundwork is soaked with the impregnation-means, but the latter is besides laid on the projections of the press-roll at the same time. By this method the impregnation-means contained in the groundwork, will not only penetrate from the underside of the cloth into the pressed parts, but also will be transferred from the projections of the press-roller upon the upper surface of the pressed parts, from where it will infiltrate the fabric, so that the pressed parts are fully and proportionately impregnated.

The present lace can be made in any suitable breadth and length. By an appropriate selection of the thickness of the groundwork, the thickness of the lace can be raised independently of the thickness of the liningcloth, so that the lace can be accommodated in any case to the requirements in respect to mechanical strength. Though the groundworr alone will be fully sufficient for strengthening the lace and for protecting same against the influences of weather, a covering strip can be attached to the back of the lace, which preferably is led through the press simultaneously with the groundwork and thereby will be rigidly united with the groundwork and the lining-cloth by the impregnation-means contained in the groundwork. In this case however it is to be recommended, to sew up the finished lace at its edges after leaving the press.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention, that what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

Process for the manufacture of mustered lace for coaches, liveries and the like, consisting in seaming the lining, impregnating the ground work witha solution of caoutchouc, subjecting the groundwork when still wet from the impregnating substance to pressure simultaneously with the lining for uniting both, coloring the same, impregnating the lining by said pressure spreading leaf-metal over the impregnated lining for enriching its color, and finally drying the whole.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHANN STROBACH. Witnesses ALFRED BEVAN, AUGUST FUGGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

